Rotary machine

ABSTRACT

A rotary machine such as a motor, a turbine, a pump, a compressor or the like comprises a rotor in a stator, the rotor being provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, the axis thereof being at right angles to the rotor axis; a piston in the chamber and mounted on the crank pin of a crank-shaft carried by the stator, the rotor being apertured in order to permit the passage and the rotation of the crank-shaft; sealing members on the rotor and the stator comprising at least one annular groove fitted in the stator on either side of the chamber, corresponding annular ribs on the rotor so that one rib engages each of the said grooves and plates fastened in the stator and mounted across the annular groove in order to seal off the latter, the free rim of such plates being cut out in order to allow for the passage of the annular rib provided on the rotor and engaging the said groove.

[ 51 May 30,1972

United States Patent Van Avermaete ROTARY MACHINE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS w. m m e G am m S Ue AG 3 7 333 999 NH 0 5 l 726 873 326 424 56 S e d n .1 m e h C l l 1 m e .m tg a m B a i m w s V1 H y Wm GE o m d e v m h F l 2 2 7 2 Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh [2]] Appl. No.: 838,096

ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A rotary machine such as a motor, a turbine, a pump, a compressor or the like comprises a rotor in a stator, the rotor being provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, the axis thereof being at right angles to the rotor axis; a piston in the chamber and mounted on the crank pin of a crank-shaft carried by the stator, the rotor being apertured in order to permit the passage and the rotation of the crank-shaft; sealing members on the rotor and the stator comprising at least one annu- 6 6 mmm ":M J L M 2 00 ye d m Send i UHF 1111 2 8 555 .|..r..ri

References'Cited lar groove fitted in the stator on either side of the chamber,

corresponding annular ribs on the rotor so that one rib en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gages each of the said grooves and plates fastened in the stator and mounted across the annular groove in order to seal ofi the latter, the free rim of such plates being cut out in order to allow for the passage of the annular rib provided on the rotor and engaging the said groove.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures r en 8 r .um b u w m m n 91.1 .mkdv. ea SWHG 07959 22234 99999 11111 ll/l/ 41 11 1 68628 48088 624 8 3 25 11.122

Patentd May 30, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a y-L Patented May 30,. 1972 3,665,811

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May '30-, 1972 3,665,811

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inverr/or' Gl/ erf' l n Aver-Mada ROTARY MACHINE The present invention relates to improvements to the object of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 683,674 filed on Nov. 16, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,533 and in particular to a rotary machine, such as a motor, a turbine, a pump, a compressor or the like, comprising at least one rotor rotating inside a stator coaxially therewith, the rotor being provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, the axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the rotor, a piston being fitted in such chamber and mounted on the crank pin of a crank-shaft carried by the stator, the crank pin and the crank-shaft being offset in relation to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so as to impel the piston with the reciprocating motion inside the chamber, during the rotation of the rotor, in order that the space comprised between the wall of the chamber, the working face of the piston and the inner wall of the stator shall be alternately a maximum and a minimum, the rotor being apertured in order to permit the passage and the rotation of the crank-shaft.

The invention has for its object to provide a rotary machine having on the one hand, an excellent sealing along a direction running parallel to the axis of the machine and along a direction at right angles to such axis as well as a satisfactory sealing between the ends of the said chamber.

For that purpose, according to the invention, sealing members are provided on the rotor and the stator, such sealing members comprising at least one annular groove fitted in one of these two elements on either side of the chamber and corresponding annular ribs provided on the other element so that one rib engages each of the said grooves.

According to a form of embodiment of the invention, such sealing members comprise at least one annular groove fitted in the rotor on either side of the chamber and corresponding annular ribs provided on the stator so that one rib engages each of the said grooves.

According to another form of embodiment of the invention, the said annular groove is fitted inside the stator whereas the corresponding annular ribs are provided on the rotor, plates being fastened inside the stator and laid across the said annular groove so as to seal the groove, the free rim of such plates being cut out so as to afford a passage for the said annular rib provided on the rotor and which engages the said groove.

According to an advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, when the said machine is provided with two sets of parallel annular grooves fitted inside the stator on either side of the chamber and regularly spaced one from the other as well as an annular rib of the rotor associated with each of the stator grooves, the said plates extend at least from the groove closest to the chamber across a substantial number of grooves of each of the two sets.

According to a particularly advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the said plates are regularly distributed over the inner enclosure of the stator, at least within the zones of the latter positioned between the inlet and exhaust ports of the machine.

The invention has also for its object to provide a rotary machine endowed with satisfactory cooling means and the moving parts of which are perfectly lubricated.

For that purpose, according to the invention, the cooling fluid, such as oil, is circulated, at low pressure, by means of a pump, through a channel provided in one of the stator cheeks and ending in the rotor aperture permitting the passage of the crankshaft.

According to the invention, the lubricating fluid is circulated, at high pressure, by means of a pump and through a blind channel provided in the crank-shaft along the axis thereof, communicating with radial channels, the latter communicating with channels provided inside the stator and opening close to the points to be lubricated.

The invention has also for its object to provide a rotary machine wherein the top and bottom piston dead center may be varied by 360 in order to control the pressure of the gas or fluid.

For that purpose, the said machine comprises a gear wheel mounted on a shaft able to rotate around its axis when it is driven from outside the machine, the drive of the said shaft being carried out advantageously by means of a gear wheel mounted on the shaft and meshing with a worm controlled by a lever or a handwheel, the bearings, carried by the cheeks closing the stator being able to rotate inside the latter around the rotor axis and being fitted so that the rotor rotates outside the bearings and so that the crank-shaft rotates inside the bearings, the distance between the main axis of the crankshaft and the rotor axis being substantially equal to the distance between the main axis of the crank-shaft and the crank pin axis.

The invention has still further for its object to provide a rotary machine wherein it is possible to vary either the flow of the gas or fluid, or the pressure of such gas or fluid, or further both the pressure and the flow of gas or fluid.

Other details and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the drawings accompanying the present specification and which represent, by way of example, particular forms of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a gas motive power generator comprising a compressor and a turbine, such generator being, for example, meant to be fitted on automotive vehicles.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line II-Il of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view of a rotary machine different from that shown on the FIGS. 1-3 and wherein is mounted a mechanism enabling the top and bottom piston dead center to be varied through 360.

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view partially broken away of the gas motive power generator shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3 provided with the sealing members according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VIVI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of details of the said sealing members.

FIG. 8 is a view along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, showing the distribution of the said plates in relation to the sealing members of the gas motive power generator.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of one of the said plates.

In the different Figures, the same reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements.

According to the invention, and as shown in the FIGS. l3, the said gas power generator comprises two rotors l and 2 rotating inside a stator 3 coaxially therewith and carried out in two sections 3' and 3", the rotors 1 and 2 being each provided with three cylindrical chambers 4 passing through the rotors from end to end and the axes of which are at right angles to the axis of the rotors, such chambers being offset by and their axes being positioned within one and the same plane. The rods 5 of the pistons 6 are offset one with reference to the other and mounted on crankpins 7 of a crank-shaft 8, carried out in two parts made integral one with the other in order that the crank-shaft shall be common to the compressor and to the turbine of the generator, carried by the stator cheeks. The crankpins and the crank-shaft are offset with reference to the axis of rotation of the rotor so as to impel the pistons 6 with a reciprocating motion inside the chambers 4. Sealing members are provided on the rotors l and 2 and on the stator 3 and comprise on the one hand, two sets of annular grooves 9, parallel and regularly spaced one from the other, provided inside the rotors 1 and 2 on either side of the chambers 4 and, on the other hand, corresponding annular ribs 10 provided on the stator 3 so that a rib engages each of the grooves fitted inside the rotors. The ribs 10 extend in such a manner as to be substantially in contacting relationship with the bottom 11 of the rotor grooves. In order to enhance the baffle action of the said grooves and ribs, an intermediate annular rib 12 is advantageously provided inbetween two immediately adjacent ribs 10, such rib 12 coming substantially in contacting relationship with the rotor portion 13 comprised inbetween the two grooves with which the said two ribs 10 are associated.

The grooves 9 are of quadrilateral cross-section, whereas the cross-section of the ribs 10'and 12 is of triangular shape in order to curtail substantially to a line the zone of contacting relationship of the ribs with the bottom of the grooves and the face of the rotors wherein open the chambers 4. The ribs 10 and 12 are part of two rings 14 and 15 surrounding each of the rotors 1 and 2 on either side of the chambers 4. These rings comprise at least two packing rings enabling to fit the said ribs inside the rotor grooves prior to assembling the rings on the stator. In order to facilitate such assembly, the face 16 of the rings is tapered, each of the rings being assembled on the stator by means of a second ring 17 the face thereof, cooperating with the face 16 of one of the rings 14 or 15, is also tapered and is applied, when clamping the ring 17 on the stator, by means of screws 18, on the appropriate ring 14 or 15, so as to apply the ribs 10 and 12 to the bottom of the grooves 10 and against the face of the said rotors. in order to prevent air pressurized by the compressor and expanding gases in the turbine from accumulating at high pressure inside the stator of the generator and delivering the cooling and lubricating fluid to the said chambers 4 through the annular grooves 9, the interior of the stator communicates, by means of a channel not shown on the drawings, with the compressor inlet. Between the said rings 14 and 15 and over the entire zone comprised between the inlet and exhaust ports 19 and 20 of the compressor and of the turbine, the stator 3 is provided with grooves 21 extending parallel to the rotor axis, the walls of such grooves acting as baffles in order to prevent gases passing from one chamber 4 to another chamber. The pistons 6 are carried out in two parts and slide inside liners 22 which are boxed inside the rotors comprised of two parts apertured so as to provide the chambers 4 and to afford a passage for the crank-shaft 8.

According to the invention and as shown in FIGS. 5-9 the gas motive power generator includes sealing members, provided on the rotors l and 2 and on the stator 3, and which comprise, on the one hand, two sets of parallel and regularly spaced annular grooves 9, fitted inside the stator 3 on either side of the chambers 4 and, on the other hand, corresponding annular ribs 10 provided on the rotors 1 and 2 in such a manner that a rib engages each of the grooves in the stator 3, such ribs extending so as to be in substantially contacting relationship with the bottom 11 of the grooves of the stator 3. In order to enhance the baffle action along a direction running parallel to the axis of the gas power generator, set up by the said grooves and ribs, an intermediate annular rib 12 is advantageously provided between two immediately adjacent ribs, such rib 12 coming into substantially contacting relationship with the portion of the stator 13 comprised between the two grooves with which the said two ribs 10 are associated. The grooves 9 are of quadrilateral cross-section, whereas the cross-section of the ribs 10 and 12 is of triangular shape in order to curtail substantially to a line the zone of contacting relationship of the ribs with the bottom of the grooves and the zones of the stator face comprised inbetween such grooves. The ribs 10 and 12 are provided on cheeks 53 recessed in their center portion and which are fastened to the rotors by means of screws 54, the grooves 9 being fitted inside rings 55 fastened to the stator by screws, each of the rings 55 being carried out in two pieces, in order to permit, on the generator being assembled, the insertion of the ribs in the grooves, these two components being assembled by means of screws 57. According to the invention and in order to provide the power generator with a seal along a direction at right angles to the generator axis, plates 58 are fastened to the stator across each set of the said annular grooves 9 so as to seal such grooves in order to prevent a radial flow of the gases inside the latter, the free rim 59 of the plates 58 being cut out in such a manner as to afford a passage for the said ribs 10 and 12 provided on the rotors and which engage the said grooves. The plates 58 are advantageously laid out in a radial direction in relation to the stator and regularly distributed over the inner enclosure thereof at least within the zones of the stator comprised between the inlet and exhaust ports 19 and 20 of the power generator. The free rim 59 of the plates 58 is cut out in such a manner that the clearance available between the edges and the faces of the said annular ribs is of 1/ 10th mm magnitude. The plates 58 are fabricated from a soft metal, such as brass, and are crimped, by their rim opposite to the rim 59, in recesses 60 provided in the stator rings 55.

The baffles set up by the said grooves and ribs and the plates 58, associated with the said grooves 21 extending in a parallel direction to the power generator axis within the stator zones positioned inbetween the inlet and exhaust ports of the power generator and the walls of which provide battles in order to prevent the passage of gases from one chamber 4 to another chamber ensure a perfect sealing of the power generator. For the grooves 21 may advantageously be substituted plates mounted in the stator parallel to the generating lines of the inner cylindrical face of the latter, the free rim of the plates coming substantially into contacting relationship with the rotor in order to prevent gases from escaping from the said chamber.

The use of the soft metal plates 58 offers the advantage of being able to provide a sealing of the power generator, along a direction at right angles to the axis of the latter, by reducing to 1/ 10th of a mm the clearance between the rotors and the stator, as such clearance could not be reduced by other means and in such proportions without running the risk of an accidental contact between the rotors and the stator of the power generator, such contact being liable to cause serious damage to the said generator, whereas a contact between the plates according to the invention and the rotors only results in a wear of the said plates, which would not cause any damage to the generator and would only entail a reduction of the sealing of the latter along a direction at right angles to the axis thereof.

The said gas power generator comprises a cooling circulation, the fluid of which, such as oil, is delivered at low pressure, by means of a pump, not shown, through two channels 23 (FIG. 1 one for the compressor, the other for the turbine, fitted in the stator cheeks and terminating in the aperture of each of the rotors permitting the passage of the crank-shaft. Each of the rotors is provided with openings 24 regularly distributed over the inner wall of the rotor defining the passage of the crank-shaft, (FIG. 2) such openings 24 permitting the passage of the cooling fluid to cavities 24' provided inside the rotor in order that it may flood the walls of the chambers 4, such fluid being discharged through openings 26 provided in the faces 27 of the rotor at right angles to the axis of the latter and flows out in a cooling box 28 wherein it is cooled either by convection and conduction the walls of the box being, if need be, provided with fins 29, or by the action of a second cooling fluid circulating so as to be in contacting relationship with the walls of the box 28. The openings 26 are fitted in the faces 27 of the rotor in such a manner that their rim farthest from the rotor axis shall be positioned at a certain distance from the periphery of the rotor in order to establish, with the rotor in motion and on account of the centrifugal force, a cooling fluid level, the height of which shall be equal to the distance separating the said rim from the periphery of the rotor, the fluid flowing out towards the box 28 when it tops the said level.

The lubricating fluid is circulated at high pressure in the gas power generator by means of a pump 32 and through a blind channel 30 provided in the crank-shaft 8, radial channels 31 connected to the channel 30 being provided inside the stator 3 and opening close to the points to be lubricated.

According to the invention, means are provided on the compressor of the gas power generator in order to control the pressure of the pressurized fluid. Such means comprise a blind channel 33 provided inside the stator and opening into the exhaust port 20 of the compressor, such channel 33 extending upstream of the exhaust manifold and communicating, by means of three openings 34 provided inside the stator, with the inner face of the latter, such openings 34 being sealed by check valves 35, the opening of which is either controlled by a governor, or takes place for a set pressure. Means are provided on the turbine for, on the one hand, controlling the gas flow and, on the other hand, the pressure of the latter, such means comprising, in order to control the gas flow, a blind channel 36 provided inside the stator and opening in the admission port 19 of the turbine, such channel extending downstream from the inlet manifold and communicating, through two openings 37 provided in the stator, with the inner face of the latter, these openings being sealed by a check valve 38. In order to control the gas pressure, the turbine is provided with a blind channel 39 similar to the channel 33 of the compressor wherein is fitted a check valve 40, the check valves 38 and 40 being controlled by means of a governor or set to open for a given pressure. The compressor draws in air through a filter 41 and delivers such pressurized air, through a channel 42 to a combustion chamber 43 wherein are provided an injector 44 and ignition means 45, the gases expanding in the turbine. In order to provide the driving set of an automotive vehicle, the said gas power generator may be associated with an independent turbine which it feeds and which is associated with a gear box, the inlet of such independent turbine being provided with a check valve adjusted in such a manner that, when the generator is idling, it cannot feed the independent turbine.

The rotary machine according to the invention and depicted in FIG. 4 comprises means whereby the top andbottom dead center may be varied by 360 in order to control the pressure of the gas or fluid. Such means comprise two gear wheels 46 associated with the circular bearings 51 supporting the crankshaft 8 and the rotor 1 and meshing with gear wheels 47 mounted on a shaft 48 able to rotate around its axis when controlled from outside the machine. The shaft 48 is driven by means of a gear wheel 49 mounted on the shaft and meshing with a worm 50, controlled by a hand wheel for example. The bearings 51 carried by the cheeks 52 of the stator may rotate inside the latter around the rotor axis and are fitted so that the rotor rotates outside the bearings and so that the crank-shaft rotates inside the bearings, the distance between the main axis of the crank-shaft 8 and the rotor axis being equal to the distance between the main axis of the crank-shaft and the crank pin axis.

It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the forms of embodiment described and that many changes may be made to the latter without departing from the scope of the present patent.

lclaim:

l. A rotary machine such as a motor, a turbine, a pump, a compressor or the like, comprising at least one rotor rotating inside a stator coaxially therewith, the rotor being provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, the axis thereof being at right angles to the rotor axis, a piston being fitted in such chamber and mounted on the crank pin of a crank-shaft carried by the stator, the crank pin and the crank-shaft being offset with reference to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so as to impel the piston with a reciprocating motion inside the chamber, during the rotation of the rotor, in order that the space comprised between the wall of the chamber, the working face of the piston and the inner wall of the stator shall be alternately a maximum and a minimum, the rotor being apertured in order to permit the passage and the rotation of the crank-shaft, sealing means being provided on the rotor and the stator, said sealing means comprising at least one annular groove provided in the stator on either side of the chamber, corresponding annular ribs engaging each of the said grooves, said ribs being provided on each of two cheeks which are recessed in their center portions and fastened to the rotor on either side of said chamber, and plates fastened in recesses in two rings secured to the stator and mounted across the said annular groove in order to seal off the latter, the free rim of such plates being cut out in order to allow for the passage of the annular rib provided on the rotor and engaging the said groove.

2. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator comprises two series of parallel annular grooves provided on either side of the chamber and regularly spaced one from the other and the rotor comprises an annular rib co-operating with each of the stator grooves, the said plates extending at least from the groove closest to the chamber across a substantial number of grooves of each of the two series.

3. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising plates regularly distributed over the inner enclosure of the stator, at least within the zones of the latter positioned between the admission and exhaust ports of the machine.

4. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free rim of the said plates is cut out in such a manner that the clearance available between the cut-out and the faces of the said annular rib is of l/lOth mm magnitude.

5. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plates are fabricated from a soft metal, such as copper for example.

6. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plates are laid out in a radial direction in relation to the stator.

7. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotor rib extends in such a manner as to be substantially in contacting relationship with the bottom of the stator groove with which it cooperates.

8. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein an intermediate annular rib is provided inbetween two immediately adjacent ribs of the rotor cooperating with two stator grooves, such intermediate rib coming into substantially contacting relationship with the portion of the stator comprised between the said two grooves.

9. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves are of quadrilateral cross-section, whereas the crosssection of the ribs is of triangular shape in order to curtail substantially to a line the zone of contacting relationship of the ribs with the bottom of the grooves.

10. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator is provided, inbetween the said grooves and over the entire zone comprised between the admission and exhaust ports, with grooves running parallel to the rotor axis, the walls of such grooves acting as baffles in order to prevent the exhaust of the gases from the said chamber.

1 1. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stator is provided, between the said grooves and within the zones comprised inbetween the admission and exhaust ports with plates mounted in the stator parallel to the generating lines of the inner cylindrical face of the latter, the free rim of the plates coming substantially into contacting relationship with the rotor in order to prevent gases from escaping from the said chamber. 

1. A rotary machine such as a motor, a turbine, a pump, a compressor or the like, comprising at least one rotor rotating inside a stator coaxially therewith, the rotor being provided with at least one cylindrical chamber, the axis thereof being at right angles to the rotor axis, a piston being fitted in such chamber and mounted on the crank pin of a crank-shaft carried by the stator, the crank pin and the crank-shaft being offset with reference to the axis of rotation of the rotor, so as to impel the piston with a reciprocating motion inside the chamber, during the rotation of the rotor, in order that the space comprised between the wall of the chamber, the working face of the piston and the inner wall of the stator shall be alternately a maximum and a minimum, the rotor being apertured in order to permit the passage and the rotation of the crank-shaft, sealing means being provided on the rotor and the stator, said sealing means comprising at least one annular groove provided in the stator on either side of the chamber, corresponding annular ribs engaging each of the said grooves, said ribs being provided on each of two cheeks which are recessed in their center portions and fastened to the rotor on either side of said chamber, and plates fastened in recesses in two rings secured to the stator and mounted across the said annular groove in order to seal off the latter, the free rim of such plates being cut out in order to allow for the passage of the annular rib provided on the rotor and engaging the said groove.
 2. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator comprises two series of parallel annular grooves provided on either side of the chamber and regularly spaced one from the other and the rotor comprises an annular rib co-operating with each of the stator grooves, the said plates extending at least from the groove closest to the chamber across a substantial number of grooves of each of the two series.
 3. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising plates regularly distributed over the inner enclosure of the stator, at least within the zones of the latter positioned between the admission and exhaust ports of the machine.
 4. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free rim of the said plates is cut out in such a manner that the clearance available between the cut-out and the faces of the said annular rib is of 1/10th mm magnitude.
 5. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plates are fabricated from a soft metal, such as copper for example.
 6. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plates are laid out in a radial direction in relation to the stator.
 7. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotor rib extends in such a manner as to be substantially in contacting relationship with the bottom of the stator groove with which it cooperates.
 8. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein an intermediate annular rib is provided inbetween two immediately adjacent ribs of the rotor cooperating with two stator grooves, such intermediate rib coming into substantially contacting relationship with the portion of the stator comprised between the said two grooves.
 9. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves are of quadrilateral cross-section, whereas the cross-section of the ribs is of triangular shape in order to curtail substantially to a line the zone of contacting relationship of the ribs with the bottom of the grooves.
 10. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator is provided, inbetween the said grooves and over the entire zone comprised between the admission and exhaust ports, with grooves running parallel to the rotor axis, the walls of such grooves acting as baffles in order to prevent the exhaust of the gases from the said chamber.
 11. A rotary machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stator is provided, between the said grooves and within the zones comprised inbetween the admission and exhaust ports with plates mounted in the stator parallel to the generating lines of the inner cylindrical face of the latter, the free rim of the plates coming substantially into contacting relationship with the rotor in order to prevent gases from escaping from the said chamber. 